Friday, February 28, 2020
In September 2019, the Max and Debra Ernst Heart Center opened its doors on the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. The new center is the second one to bear the Ernst name at Royal Oak, expanding upon the couple’s extraordinary commitment to heart health and wellness, which now totals $8 million.
With cardiovascular disease continuing to be the leading cause of death in Michigan, there is a growing need for comprehensive cardiovascular care. “Part of what inspired this center is seeing what heart disease can do to families and wanting to ease that burden,” said Max.
The state-of-the-art, 14,000-square-foot center provides this life-changing cardiac care in one convenient and comprehensive setting, helping patients better manage their conditions through medication, nutrition and regular monitoring visits. This type of ongoing care has been shown to improve patients’ quality of life while reducing emergency center visits and hospital readmissions.
“When we began this project, we set out to create something truly special and to provide a remarkable patient experience,” said Simon Dixon, MBChB, chair of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Beaumont.
The center offers a wide range of services, including a congenital heart disease clinic, a clinic for atrial fibrillation and cardiology genetic counseling and non-invasive cardiovascular testing, such as stress testing and echocardiograms.
In its first six months, more than 1,000 patients have visited the center and staff have performed nearly 600 vascular screenings, nearly 200 echocardiograms and nearly 100 heart checks for student athletes
This past year, Beaumont, Royal Oak’s cardiovascular program was again ranked among the very best in the United States, according to U.S. News and World Report. “This level of excellence is made possible in large part because of philanthropic partners like Max and Debra who allow us to invest in the advancement of patient care,” said Carolyn Wilson, Beaumont Health chief operating officer.